From Francis Dana

[dateline] Paris Augt: 19th. 1780

[salute] Dear Sir

I did not expect yesterday when Mr. Thaxter wrote you, that I shou'd have been able
to have done myself that honor, by this oppor• { 80 } tunity, as I was much engaged in a particular business. I desired him to send you
a transcript of part of a letter in the Gazette de France, said to be written by our
worthy friend the late President Laurens; which he tells me he has done. I shall add,
least the Gazette shou'd not come to your hands, the account there given from the
Captain of the Pacquebot.1

On the 7th. instant I received, via Amsterdam, a letter from Mr: Hastings of the Post-Office
Boston, dated 10th. May: nothing new of course. He says he has sent me a form of our
Constitution, but it has not reached me. I learn from several quarters that it is
generally approved by the People, and that they will probably ratify it. This makes
me more desirous to obtain this Copy. Pray enquire at Amsterdam of every American
you meet, whether he had the care of this same letter, and the plan of the Constitution—the
Newspapers sent also with it, I have received.

Mr: Gardoqui has drawn a bill upon you for about 900 Liv: in favour of Mr: Grand,
which I accepted for you.3

Mr. Dean arrived at Passy about 3 or 4 days since. He has not called here. It is doubtful
with me whether he will at all—at least till after your return. If you shou'd see
Como: Gillon, please to present my thanks to him for his very obliging letter, and
also the letters of { 81 } Introduction which he was so good as to procure for me. If I ever take that route,
I shall make use of them.

I am anxious to hear from you, and particularly whether you have received my letter,
enclosing a copy of one from the Comte de Vergennes to you.4 It was sent, together with others, by Mr: Appleton who cou'd not have reached Brussels
before you left it. I hope master John, and mon fils are well. Please to give my love
to them, and believe me to be with much respect and affection Your most obedt: humble
Servt.,

1. The extract provided by Dana is a continuation of the account from the Gazette de France of 18 Aug. provided by John Thaxter in his letter of 18 Aug. (above). The following is a translation of the extract: The captain of the Peggy, a reliable source who was at Charleston through most of the siege, said that before
the English crossed the bar they were met by a violent gale from the southwest that
resulted in the loss of one of their most valuable transports, an old East India Company
vessel. He added that the Americans considered a capitulation only after three months
of siege under constant, sustained fire; after the British had constructed their third
line around the town which permitted their guns to bear; when each day a number of
citizens fell to a disastrous small pox epidemic; they had nothing to sustain themselves
but a little rice; and they could not retain even the slightest hope of relief. It
was in this situation that Gov. Rutledge and the council retired to the interior of
the province, where they devoted all their efforts to raising some troops. At the
departure of Capt. Bryan, a detachment of 4,000 royalists under the command of Gov.
Martin set off for the coast of North Carolina, but one learns from the captain that
the Americans, far from being discouraged by the loss of Charleston, prepare with
the greatest activity to obstruct the further progress of their enemy and to avenge
the loss that they have suffered.

2. Josiah Martin, last royal governor of North Carolina, had joined the expedition against
Charleston and served under Cornwallis until departing for England in 1781 (DAB).

3. Although stated there in terms of Spanish currency, this may be a reference to the
bill for goods sent to AA enclosed in the letter of 10 June from Joseph Gardoqui & Sons (above).

4. This is Dana's letter of 31 July enclosing Vergennes' of 29 July (both above).

Docno: ADMS-06-10-02-0040

Author: Mazzei, Philip

Recipient: Adams, John

Date: 1780-08-19

From Philip Mazzei

[dateline] Genoa Augst. 19th. 1780

[salute] Dear Sir

The inclosed,1 which you will be so Kind as to peruse, seal, and send to its destination, will inform
you with my situation, my views, and my wants. Among the last I have thought proper
not to mention the money necessary to bear my expences, as they know that I live on
what I can raise on my own credit, which cannot honorably continue too long. You see,
Sir, in what need I am of information. I wish Mr. Dana had lent me the journals of
Congress; they would have { 82 } been of great use. Pray, be at the trouble of sending me a true account of our affairs
as soon as you can, that I may be able to satisfy the Grand-Duke,2 which is a point of great consequence. They have no other accounts of American affairs
in this Country, but such as they receive from England. A prudent and wise nobleman
in this City observed to me, with great reason founded on experience, that “Onesta
è sempre La causa di colui che parla solo.”3

The bearer of this is Mr. Celesia, the very person to whom I told you I intended to
open my bosom, which I have done with that confidence, which is to be placed in those
few beings, who to an exquisite mind join the most excellent heart. He intends to
spend about 2 months in Paris, then to come home, where I hope to meet him on my return
from Florence. As he is modesty itself, and almost as reserved as you are, I think
proper to warn you that you will find in him profound common-sense, and general knowledge.
He is an ornament to his Country, and his opinion is highly esteemed. I therefore
would have desired the favour of you to furnish him with the best accounts you can
relative to our glorious Cause, exclusive of the mutual satisfaction, which I am happy
in procuring you both of conversing with each other. If you have an opportunity I
wish you will introduce to him our friend Mr. Favi, to whom you will please to give
any letters or papers for me, as I don't chuse to trust to the incorruptibleness of clerks in Post-Offices. With my respects to Mr. Dana and Mr. Thaxtarr I have the
honour to be with respect & esteem, Dr. Sr. Your Excellency's most Obedient & most
Humble Servant

1. The enclosure was likely Mazzei's letter to Thomas Jefferson of this date (from John
Thaxter, 23 Sept., below). Mazzei mentions such a letter, which concerned his efforts to raise a loan
for Virginia, in his “Representation” of 1784, but the letter has not been found (Jefferson, Papers, 3:557).